Knitted garment linking machines



April 14, 1970 J. P. PLAQUE 3, 0

KNITTED GARMENT LINKING MACHINES Filed May 14, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 wa 2/ Arm /Viv;

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 14, 1970 Filed May'14. 1968 April 14, 1970 J P.FLA UE 5 3,505,964

KNITTED GARMENT LINKING MACHINES Filed May 14 1968 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATMP/VEVS April 14, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 14, 1968 m m/me United States Patent 3,505,964 KNITTED GARMENT LINKING MACHINES Juan Pruna Flaque, Avenida del Maresme 14, Mataro, Barcelona, Spain Filed May 14, 1968, Ser. No. 728,452 Claims priority, application France, Aug. 18, 1967, 118,224 Int. Cl. Db 7/00 US. Cl. 11225 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A knitted garment linking machine having a fixed base and a gyratory column mounted thereon by means of rollers. The fixed base has a series of fixed electrical contacts mounted on a plate and the column has an assembly of movable contacts held elastically in a vertical direction against the fixed contacts, which fixed contacts constitute concentric crowns formed on the plate. Switch means are connected to the plate for permitting energization of the fixed contacts. A pedal means is mounted on the fixed base and acts through a suitable linkage means so as to be connected to a flange fixed to an electric motor secured within the column with the motor being displaceable by the pedal.

This invention refers to improvements in or relating to knitted garment linking machines.

By means of these improvements a machine is obtained that sews with one or with two threads, and in which the thread is locked by the anchor passing over the needle. The penetration of the thread through the wales of the fabric is effected by means of a straight needle that enters by the exterior of the crown, accompanying the fabric to its correct situation, while the anchoring thread is linked on the interior of the crown. This operation may be reversed by reversing the order of arrangement of both mechanisms.

In the machine the circle of needles are inclined and directed towards the line of vision of the operator, thus facilitating the introduction of the wales and allowing easy and convenient interchanging of the needles.

Another improvement of the machine is that the continuous rotary crown is easily declutched by means of a hand-knob, permitting recession or advancement of the crown for sewing a collar, etc.

For driving purposes the machine includes a motor started up by means of a switching pedal. A pilot lamp indicates when the motor is running since the high efficiency and silent operation of the mechanism renders such an indication device necessary. A smooth line speed variation of 50 to 450 stitches per minute is obtained from a transmission mechanism which is mounted interiorly of the machine and is operated by an exterior pedal. The transmission mechanism allows the driving motor to he slid to various heights, by means of a friction cone on a rotary shaft operating against an external clutch plate, so that according to the displacement of the motor, its friction cone will bear against the clutch plate at a point more or less high on its conical surface, thus determining the range of speed variation against the driven clutch plate. The driven plate is coupled to gearing connected to the main driving shaft of the machine assembly.

The driving motor is slideably mounted by means of bars fixed to same, which bars move through holes provided in supports which are united to a cover that is fixed to the column of the machine. The weight of said motor is compensated upwardly by a spring or a very long helicoidal spiral spring, while one of the guide bars comprises a keyway for a stud or elastic protuberance Patented Apr. 14, 1970 that moves the motor to a position out of use when the two clutch elements are on the point of separation.

The complete assembled machine is supported on a fixed pedestal, to which it is held by means of ball or roller bearings so that the machine may have a gyratory motion relative to said pedestal, thus allowing the operator to be situated always in front of the working zone.

The relative position of the gyratory assembly to the pedestal from an electrical point of view, is governed by a set of fixed contacts and other slideable ones, mounted on two confronted discs. The fixed contacts are united to the pedestal and the slideable ones to the gyratory body, these latter bearing elastically and in a vertical direction on the fixed disc, and presenting for each contact phase with the disc two brushes to ensure the passage of electric current and preclude sparking or failures.

For sewing with one or two threads, the machine has a two position control lever whereby a set of eccentrics fixed to the general shaft of the machine actuate the anchor support. One of said eccentrics controls the raising and lowering displacement of the anchor, and two radial working eccentrics determine the one or the other displacement corresponding to single or double thread sewing, according to the eccentric on which the guide roller fixed to the anchor support is bearing.

A support with circular screen is provided on the upper part of the machine, which support also illumininates the whole of the crown zone where the work is in process. A suspension tray for the fabric is provided heneath the crown.

In order to facilitate this explanation, the drawings illustrate one form of these improvements and is shown as an example only, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows the upper part of the linking machine in elevation and section.

FIGURE 2 shows the lower part of the linking machine in elevation and section.

FIGURE 3 is a detailed perspective view of the set of eccentrics seen from the rear part of the anchor.

FIGURE 4 is a detailed perspective view of the set of eccentrics seen from the front part of the anchor.

Upon referring to the figures, it will be seen that the linking machine comprises a supporting base 1, and a gyratory column 2 mounted on said base by means of ball or roller bearings 3, whereby the machine assembly is free to rotate or oscillate on said base. A surface 4 is provided for the operators feet in order to permit movement of column 2 by pressing on same.

Near the lower part of the column there are two covers 5 and 6 fixed by screws and diametrically opposed, one of which has the supporting holes 7 through which the bars 8 fixed to the motor 9 slide. Said covers facilitate the change or repair of the motor without the necessity for any further dismounting of the machine.

The motor 9 has a flange 10 fixed to its frame, which flange 10 is connected to the exterior pedal 12 through the tie-rod 11 in order to regulate the height of said motor.

The motor has a driving friction cone 13 which is fixed on the motor shaft and actuates, by friction, the cupshaped wheel 14 in order to drive the main shaft 15 of the machine through the gearing 16.

A pedal switch 17 is provided for closing the circuits 8 18, same having a series of contacts fixedly secured.

thereto.

In order to determine a stable position when not in use, one of the bars 8 of the motor 9 is provided with a slot 20 into which an elastic stud 21 may be introduced,

thereby retaining the motor in its lowest position whereby the driving and driven friction elements 13 and 14 become separated, thereby avoiding wear of the covering of the piece 14 when it is almost rubbing against the former. The motor 9 is suspended by means of a long spring 22 fixed at its lower end to the motor and at its upper end to the top part of the column 2.

The shaft is provided at its upper extremity with a sleeve 57 that drives the shaft 58 which is provided with a helicoidal 45 bevel gear 23 in mest with a similar one 24 solidly fixed to a shaft 71 whose extremity is provided with a worm (not shown) engaged with a worm wheel 25. Worm wheel 25 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 72 provided with the pinion 26 that drives the crown 27 by means of the internal ring gear 73. The worm wheel 25 is fixed to a pawl 28 which is blocked by the elastic hand-knob 29 in order to permit clutching and declutching of the crown 27 at will when this latter has to be driven by the motor, or by hand in cases where it is required to alter the position of said crown.

The shaft 58 is provided with an axial cam 30 which axially bears against the roller 31 fitted to an arm 32 on which the anchor support 33 is fitted. Cam 30 causes the rising and falling movements of said anchor. The anchor support 33 is adjustable to be able to determine the exact position in relation to the needle. At the same time a double eccentric or radial cam 34 provides two zones, on one of which slides the roller 35 fixed to the arm 36. Arm 36 is united to the anchor support 33 and determines the radial displacement of the anchor according to whether the roller 35 bears on the upper or the lower part of cam 34 to determine the displacement of the anchor for working with one or with two threads.

The lever 32 maintains the roller 31 in contact with the cam 30 by means of the spring 38, and the lever 36 holds its roller 35 in contact with the earns 34 by means of the spring 39.

The shaft 58 at its upper extremity adjacent the arm 40 is fitted with an eccentric 41 on which one end of connecting rod 42 is rotatably supported. Connecting rod 42 includes an elongated rod portion 43 which actuates the toggle lever 44 and determines the rising and falling movements of the needle bar 45 so that the needle 46 shall penetrate between the needles 47. Said needle-bar 45 is fixed to the support 60, by means of which its reciprocating displacement is limited and is regulatable in order to be able to determine the exact position of the needle stroke for the optimum functioning of the machine.

The lateral displacement of the needle 46 is caused by means of the eccentric 51 fixed to the shaft 58. Eccentric 51 is in contact with the roller 62 that is fixed to the lever 61 mounted at one end of shaft 52. Oscillatory movement of lever 61 is transmitted through shaft 52 to lever 53 mounted at the other end thereof. This oscillatory movement is then transmitted to a tappet or intermediate link 63 that is united to the support 48. The fixing screws 54 serve to lengthen more or less the tappet 63 and to obtain the exact displacement of the needle 46 when penetrating between the needles 47.

The support 48 oscillates on the bushes 49 and 50.

As complements to the machine, there is provided an annular tray 55 beneath the crown for suspending the fabric, and a circular screen 56 at the height of the arm 40 for housing luminous lights 59.

What I claim is:

1. An improved knitted garment linking machine, comprising a fixed base and an upright support column rotatably mounted thereon, the fixed base having a fixed plate secured thereto with said plate having a series of fixed electrical contacts thereon, said fixed contacts comprising eccentric crowns mounted on the plate, the upright column having an assembly of movable contacts mounted thereon and held elastically in a vertical direction against the fixed contacts mounted on said plate, a pedal operated switch means electrically connected to said plate, an electric driving motor and means mounting same on said column for permitting displacement of said motor relative to said column, and linkage means connected to said motor for permitting displacement thereof relative to said column, said linkage means including an operating pedal positioned adjacent the fixed base and a movable link connected between the operating pedal and the motor for causing selected displacement of the motor relative to the column.

2. A machine according to claim 1, in which the electric motor is positioned within the upright column and the means permitting displacement of the motor relative to the column includes a pair of bars fixedly connected to the motor and support means fixedly interconnected to the column for permitting displacement of said motor relative to said column in a substantially vertical direction, said column including a first removable cover member fixedly secured thereto with said first cover member having said support means mounted thereon, said column including a second cover member substantially opposite said first cover member, said support means including an elastic stud and one of said bars including a slot adapted to receive said stud therein for permitting said motor to be locked in a selected nonworking position, said mounting means further including weight compensating spring means connected at its lower end to the motor and at its upper end to the column for at least partially suspending said motor within said column, a main shaft rotatably positioned within said column, and disengageable transmission means connected between the motor and the main shaft for selectively driving same, said transmission means including a driving conical friction clutch member secured to the motor shaft and a driven clutch member adapted to be placed in driving engagement with the driving clutch member for providing a selected speed ratio therebetween in accordance with the point of contact between the driving and driven friction clutch members, and gear means connected between the driven clutch member and the main shaft.

3. A machine according to claim 2, further including a needle carrying crown rotatably supported on and positioned adjacent the upper end of the upright column, the crown having a ring gear secured thereto, drive means interconnecting said crown to said main shaft for causing rotation of said crown, said drive means including a first gear connected to the main shaft and positioned below the crown with said first gear being drivingly interconnected to a worm, said worm being in driving engagement with a second gear rotatably supported upon a secondary shaft, the secondary shaft having a third gear mounted thereon in driving engagement with said ring gear, and means including a manually actuated elastic control element for selectively clutching and unclutching said second gear to said secondary shaft for driving same, an anchor member, cam means mounted on said main shaft and linkage means coacting between said cam means and said anchor member for controlling the movement thereof, said cam means including an axial cam and a double radial cam for controlling the movement of said anchor member, said axial and radial cams being mounted on said main shaft closely adjacent said crown, arm means mounted on the upper end of said column and positioned above said crown, said arm means having a needle movably mounted thereon, said main shaft extending upwardly into said arm means and having a pair of eccentrics mounted thereon adjacent the upper end thereof, first link means connected between one of said eccentrics and said needle for controlling the lateral displacement thereof, and second link means connected between the other eccentric and said needle for controlling the longitudinal displacement thereof.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein said linkage means for controlling the movement of the anchor member includes a first pivotally movable anchor supporting arm having a first cam roller supported on the free end thereof in bearing engagement with said axial cam and first spring means urging said first roller into engagement with said axial cam whereby said one arm controls the upward and downward displacement of the anchor member, said linkage means further including a second pivotally movable anchor supporting arm having a second cam roller on the free end thereof in bearing engagement with the double radial cam and second spring means urging the second cam roller into bearing engagement with the radial cam for controlling the lateral displacement of the anchor member, said linkage means further including a two-positioned lever displacing said second cam roller so as to position same in bearing engagement with a selected one of the two cam surfaces provided on the double radial cam for permitting selected lateral displacement of the anchor member to permit the machine to selectively work with one or two threads.

5. A machine according to claim 3, wherein said arm means has a needle bar movably mounted thereon with said needle being mounted on said needle bar, said arm means having spaced bearing means for slideably sup porting said needle bar, said second link means for controlling the longitudinal displacement of said needle including a connecting rod rotatably supported at one end on said other eccentric and lever means connected between said needle bar and the other end of said connecting rod whereby rotation of said other eccentric causes longitudinal displacement of said needle bar and said needle mounted thereon, said first link means for controlling lateral displacement of said needle including an oscillatable shaft means having first lever means secured thereto and bearing said one eccentric and second lever means secured to said shaft means and interconnected to said needle bar whereby rotation of said one eccentric causes oscillation of said shaft means and results in lateral displacement of said needle.

6. A circular linking machine having a stationary base and an upright column rotatably supported on said base, said upright column having a circular needle carrying support ring rotatably supported thereon, an arm secured to said upright column and positioned above said support ring with said arm having a movable needle support member mounted thereon, said needle support member having a needle mounted thereon for cooperation with the needle carrying support ring, motor means and first drive means connected between said motor means and said support ring for causing rotation thereof and second drive means connected between said motor means and said needle support member for causing movement thereof, the improvement including mounting means interconnecting said motor means to said upright column for permitting selected vertical displacement of said motor means relative to said column, first linkage means connected to said motor means for permitting selected vertical displacement of said motor means relative to said column, electrical control means connected to said motor means for controlling energization thereof, said electrical control means including manually actuated switch means positioned adjacent said base and contact means electrically connected between said motor means and said switch means, said contact means including stationary contacts fixedly connected to said base means and cooperating movable contacts nonrotatably interconnected to said column, and said first drive means including speed varying means responsive to vertical displacement of the motor means for permitting the rotational speed of the support ring to be selectively varied.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,862,464

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 1l2258 

